Step-By-Step Guide on How-To Use Event Viewer to Identify and Troubleshoot Computer Problems

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

Event Viewer for Identifying and Troubleshooting Computer Problems

Event Viewer is a built-in tool in Windows that allows you to view and analyze system, security, and application event logs. It can help you identify and troubleshoot various computer problems, such as errors, crashes, and performance issues. 

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use Event Viewer:

Open Event Viewer:

Press the Windows key on your keyboard or click on the Windows icon in the taskbar to open the Start Menu.

Type "Event Viewer" in the search bar, and then click on the "Event Viewer" app that appears in the search results.

Navigate the Event Viewer Interface:

In the Event Viewer window, you'll see the console tree on the left side, which contains event logs categorized by type (e.g., Windows Logs, Applications and Services Logs, etc.).

Expand the categories to view different logs. The main categories include:

Windows Logs: Contains system, security, application, setup, and forwarded events.

Applications and Services Logs: Contains specific logs related to various applications and services on your system.

View Event Logs:

Click on the specific log category you're interested in. For example, "Windows Logs" and then "System."

In the middle pane, you'll see a list of events with details such as the date, time, source, and description of each event.

Interpret Event Information:

Pay attention to the "Level" column, which indicates the severity of the event (e.g., Information, Warning, Error, Critical).

Look for events with "Error" or "Critical" levels, as these are likely to indicate problems that need attention.

Double-click on an event to view its details, including the event description and additional information.

Filter and Search:

You can filter events by various criteria to narrow down your search. Right-click on the log category (e.g., "System") and select "Filter Current Log."

You can filter events based on event level, event sources, keywords, date and time, etc.

Use the search bar at the top-right corner to search for specific keywords or event IDs.

Event Actions:

In the event details window, you may find useful information, recommendations, or links to Microsoft's online resources related to the event.

Depending on the event, you might have the option to take actions, such as starting a specific troubleshooting process.

Save and Export Logs:

You can save specific events or entire logs for future reference or to share with technical support.

Right-click on a specific event or a log category and select "Save All Events As" to save them as an XML or EVTX file.

Identify Patterns:

Look for patterns in the events that could indicate underlying issues. For example, if you notice a series of events leading up to a crash, they might help pinpoint the cause.

Research and Troubleshoot:

Research the event codes and descriptions online to understand their meanings and potential solutions.

Based on the information you gather, you can take appropriate troubleshooting steps to address the identified problems.

Remember that Event Viewer provides valuable information about system events, but interpreting and troubleshooting based on this information may require technical knowledge.

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